25 Best Holiday Cookies

Here’s a roundup of our favorite, tried and true cookie recipes for the holidays (and beyond, of course.) They can be made ahead of time and are freezer friendly.

The holiday season is synonymous with cookie baking, cookie freezing, and cookie eating. Here’s our delightful collection of tried-and-true cookie recipes that will dazzle everyone who tastes them. From family treats to homemade gifts, we hope these recipes will make the season that much brighter.

25 Days of Christmas Cookies (Plus 2 bonus gluten-free recipes) …

  1. These 4-Ingredient Pecan Sandies are even better than the store bought version we enjoyed as kids. Plus, they’re super easy to make at home using just 4 real ingredients.
pecan sandies, pecan shortbread cookies, pecan cookies
Buttery Pecan Sandies

2. Buttery Jam Thumbprint Cookies – Who knew jam thumbprint cookies would become the most pinned Christmas cookie on Pinterest, could we?

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Buttery Jam Thumbprint Cookies

3. Salted Caramel Kiss Cookies – These are THE cure for any cookie & caramel craving.  Soft, chewy, and made with the depth of browned butter.  Lightly sprinkled with flaked sea salt.  

Salted Caramel Kiss Cookies

4. Samoas Cookie Bars Recipe – These cookie bars are awesome all year round, but they’re certain to stand out amongst all the others on that Christmas cookie plate. Perfect for Girl Scout cookie lovers. (Pssst: these bars are totally better than boxed Samoa cookies, but let’s keep that between us.)

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Samoas Cookie Bars

5. Thick, Chewy Oatmeal Cookies (with or without icing) – these are every bit as thick and chewy as bakery cookies, and loaded with the goodness of rolled oats and plump raisins. Feel free to omit raisins or swap them out for chocolate chips.

BakeryStyle Oatmeal Cookies

6. Snickerdoodle Pudding Cookies – Snickerdoodles are must-haves in the world of Christmas cookies. These cinnamon sugar delights are extra chewy, with the addition of a little pudding in the dough. Not only does it provide elevated yum factor, it allows these cookies to stay chewy soft for days. Cinnamon chips not required, but highly recommended. 

christmas cookie exchange recipes

7. Chewy Soft Ginger Cookies – These ginger cookies are chewy and delicious, thanks to the combination of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses. 

Chewy Ginger Cookies

8, Chewy Monster Cookie Bars (One-Bowl!) – Who’s on board with one-bowl cookie recipes? Especially when they’re in bar form, which makes them even easier. All you have to do is use Christmas colors for your M&M’s and you’ve got yourself the perfect holiday-edition monster cookies.

cookie exchange recipes christmas cookies
Switch out the M&M colors for the holidays

9. Best, Big Soft Sugar Cookies – Confession: I never liked sugar cookies or frosting (please still be my friend.) That is, until I met these big, soft, sugar cookies here. These are seriously the queen of sugar cookies. They’re reminiscent of famous Lofthouse sugar cookies, but these are Even. Better.

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Better than Lofthouse Sugar Cookies

10. Almond Blossoms (Kiss Cookies) – These delicious morsels are an amazing twist on the classic peanut butter kiss cookies. With a touch of almond extract and almond kisses, these Almond Blossoms are supremely yummy. Plus, they just look so darned cute. And people like cute cookies. 

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Almond Infused Kiss Cookies

11. Chewy Chocolate Brownie Cookies – Clearly, these chocolate brownie cookies are not just for the holidays. Although these chocolatey cookies are a hit anytime of year, they’re a [very] appreciated sight on any cookie platter.

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Cookies that remind you of brownies

12. One-Bowl Chewy Blondies Recipe (Cookie Bars) – These blondies. They’re the fail proof base for all my chewy blondie variations throughout the year. Think green and red for Christmas; pink and red for Valentines; red, white, and blue for 4th of July. Use this same chewy cookie base for all the celebrations. Someone literally came up and told me these blondies reminded her of the best thing her grandmother ever baked. 

christmas cookie exchange recipes
THE best blondies ever

13. Twix Thumbprint Cookies Recipe – These yummy morsels of buttery cookie, caramel centers, and chocolate drizzle are simply irresistible. Of course, you know these thumbprint cookies taste better than Twix. 

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Caramel Thumbprint Cookies taste like Twix

14. Snowball Cookies (Russian Tea Cakes) – These snowball cookies might be the most humble cookies I had ever seen, before I tasted one. If looks can be deceiving, these cookies are the prime example. They’re HUGE on flavor and melt-in-your-mouth amazing. These little guys may actually be my very favorite Christmas cookie of all time.

snowball cookies, russian tea cakes, mexican wedding cakes, pecan balls
Melt-in-your-mouth Snowball Cookies

15. Carmelita Bars – Loaded with oats, coconut, and caramel, these Carmelita bars are an instant winner. Watch them disappear from the dessert table faster than you can say Carmelita. Just be sure to grab a few for yourself before they’re all gone. 

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Bars

16. Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Bars – It’s not a Christmas cookie exchange without white chocolate and cranberries. These Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Bars are somewhat akin to Starbuck’s Cranberry Bliss bars, but these aren’t quite as candy-heavy. A generous drizzle of white chocolate does the trick. It’s an irresistible combination of flavors. 

Cranberry Bars with White Chocolate

17. 3-Ingredient Buttery Shortbread Cookies – These are a great gift-giving option, as they keep super well and won’t melt like chocolate. People love receiving these buttery shortbread cookies all wrapped up in cellophane. That’s if your family doesn’t snatch them up first.

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Easy, Buttery Shortbread Cookies

18. Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies – these slightly crispy yet chewy cookies are piled mile-high with rolled oats.  The old-fashioned kind, not the quick cooking kind.  Make them while butterscotch chips are in season.

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

19. Perfect Vanilla Cut-Out Cookies – a buttery, chewy, tasty cut-out cookie that can be decorated to your heart’s content.

Vanilla Cut-Out Cookies

20. Chewy Coconut Macaroon Cookies – This 5-Ingredient Coconut Macaroons Recipe yields cookies that are crisp on the outside and chewy in the center. They’re sure to be an instant hit with all the coconut lovers in your life.

Coconut Macaroon Cookies

21. Soft Batch Funfetti Cookies – festive, delicious, and a plate of cheerfulness. The dough can be made ahead and chilled until ready to bake. Great way to bring on the fun!

Soft Batch Funfetti Cookies

22. White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Cookies – The addition of a secret ingredient makes them superb. Both the dough and the baked cookies freeze beautifully.

white chocolate macadamia cookies
White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

23. Orange Chocolate Lace Cookie – these crispy, buttery cookies are an oldie but goodie. They’re fun to make and even better to eat.

orange lace cookies
Crisp, Buttery Orange Lace Cookies

24. Christmas M&M Cookies, soft-batch style, without being cakey. These keep incredibly well at room temperature for days, and can also be frozen.

Chewy Soft Christmas M&M Cookies

25. Double Chocolate Biscotti Cookies – For those mornings or afternoons when you can stay in and sip on a hot mug of coffee or tea… bring in these double chocolate Biscotti cookies.  They are the perfect dunking cookie.

Crispy Sweet Biscotti Cookies

Bonus: Gluten-Free Cookies

christmas cookie exchange recipes
Chocolate Chip Cookies that are secretly gluten-free

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies that happen to be gluten and dairy free are oh-so-satisfying. Loaded with big peanut butter flavor.

Peanut Butter oatmeal Cookies Gluten-Free
Chewy Peanut Butter Oat Cookies

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  • Share this post with a cookie lover! 🍪 These sugar cookies are HUGE and dangerously delicious! ✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/best-big-soft-sugar-cookies/) Ingredients: 6 cups all purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ¾ teaspoon table salt 1 cup whole sour cream 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup salted butter, slightly softened* 4 large eggs, room temperature 1 teaspoon almond extract For the Frosting: 1 cup salted butter, slightly softened* 3 cups confectioners' sugar ½ tsp almond extract ½ tsp vanilla extract ⅛ tsp salt 2 TB milk Instructions: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to combine. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed, beat the sour cream, sugar, butter, eggs, and almond extract until well combined. Using a spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the sour cream mixture until fully combined. The dough will be somewhat sticky. Cover the bowl, and chill the dough in the fridge for an hour or until it is firm enough to roll out. Lightly flour a working surface. Divide the chilled dough into quarters, and roll out one quarter at a time, keeping the remaining dough in the fridge until ready to use. Roll each quarter to ¼ inch thickness, and use a cookie cutter 2-inch in diameter to cut out circles. Preheat the oven to 250F, and position the rack on the lower middle position. Arrange the cookie dough on parchment or silicone-lined baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each cookie. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are a light golden-pale color. Do not overbake! Cool on the cookie sheet 10-15 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the butter for 3-4 minutes or until it is light and fluffy. Add the sugar, and continue to whisk until well combined. Add the almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt, and whisk on medium-high speed until fully incorporated. Add one tablespoon of milk at a time until the desired consistency is achieved. If desired, whisk in food coloring.
  • Ham lover? This recipe is a MUST TRY! ✨ Skip the store bought ham for the holidays this year, and make your own! 🎄 Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/honey-baked-ham/) Ingredients: 4-5 lbs ham, spiral-sliced, fully cooked 1 cup apple cider ¼ cup brown sugar, firmly packed ¼ cup whole grain mustard, prepared mustard jar with whole mustard seeds ¼ cup honey Instructions: Preheat: Heat oven to 350F with rack on lower position. Make Sauce: Mix together apple cider, brown sugar, mustard, and honey in a bowl. Mix well to fully incorporate basting sauce. Bake: Place ham in a 13×9 baking dish. Coat ham with a generous amount of sauce. Bake for 60-70 minutes, basting thoroughly every 15 minutes. Serve: To serve pre-cut slices of ham, arrange slices neatly on a serving dish and brush leftover sauce all over ham slices and serve. (If serving ham whole, be sure to have leftover sauce available for drizzling. The sauce is what makes this ham so great!) Follow @chewoutloud for more delicious recipes! #makeitdelicious #scrumptiouskitchen #bhgcelebrate #onthetable #dailyfoodpic #homemade #hereismyfood #whatsonmyplate #getinmybelly #foodblogfeed #lovefood #igfoodies #instafood #instayum #easyrecipes #foodblogeats #imsomartha #mywilliamsonoma #abmfoodie #whatweeat #makemore #f52grams #f52community #tohfoodie #eatsharerepeat #foodblogeats
  • Save this post for your Christmas parties! 🎄 Just 3 ingredients make these buttery, moist and insanely delicious cookies! ✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/3-ingredient-buttery-shortbread-cookies/) Ingredients: 2 cups salted butter, cold and cut into pieces 1 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed 4 ½ cups all purpose flour, divided Optional: sprinkles to suit any occasion throughout the year Instructions: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add butter and brown sugar. Using paddle attachment on medium-high speed, mix until fluffy and light, several minutes. Add only 3 1/2 cups of the flour and mix on medium-low speed until combined. On a large board, sprinkle 1/2 cup flour to keep dough from sticking to the board. Use rubber spatula to transfer dough to the board. Knead dough by hand for 5 minutes, adding only as much of the remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed to make a soft dough, while continuing to knead by hand. The dough should end up soft and pliable, similar to play-dough, not sticky. Work in desired amount of sprinkles, if using. Important Note: You may not end up using all the flour, depending on how your dough feels; it's important to stop adding flour as soon as your dough feels like soft play dough. Divide dough into thirds, wrap tightly, and chill for at least 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll and cut shapes. Meanwhile, reheat oven to 325F, with rack on lower middle position. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats; set aside. Roll one-third of the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness – lightly flour board if needed. Either cut into 3×1 rectangular strips, triangles, or use cookie cutters (I like 1-2" cookie cutters, but feel free to use your favorites). Place each cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Poke cookies with fork on top for a design, if not using sprinkles. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. For smaller cookies, bake closer to 15 minutes; bake longer for larger shapes. Repeat with the remaining dough, working in batches so dough stays chilled and workable. Cool completely on wire rack before serving.
  • TAG a friend to try this tender, easy, and delicious Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash recipe. Yes, it is a few days before Christmas but fall dishes never end in our home.🍂✨❤️🍂 Save this post: Ingredients List 👇🏼 1 butternut squash, large, peeled/seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes 3 TB olive oil 2 TB brown sugar, tightly packed 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 425F with rack on upper middle position. Line baking sheet with heavy duty foil. In a large bowl, toss the squash with remaining ingredients until thoroughly coated. Transfer to foil-lined baking sheet, in a single layer, without overcrowding the pieces. Roast about 40 minutes, rotating pan midway during baking. When edges are browned and cubes are fork-tender, remove from oven immediately. You may want to start checking squash around 35 minutes, just to ensure that they don’t become overcooked. (For printable recipe cards and notes, click on today's story.... or simply google "chewoutloud roasted butternut squash") ✨For more delicious recipes FOLLOW 👉"@chewoutloud" #butternutsquash #butternutsquashrecipes #healthyfood #healthyeating #healthyrecipes #eatwell #fromscratch #recipeoftheday #easydinner #easyrecipes #dinnerideas #tasty #delicious #cooking #homecooking #cookingtime #fallrecipes #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #eater #foodblogger #feedfeed #todayfood #nytcooking #cookinglight #f52grams #foodblogfeed #thefeedfeed
  • Save this post for your next Christmas party! This cranberry prosecco recipe is warm, cozy and full of Christmas flavor! 🎄✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/sparkling-cranberry-prosecco-cocktail/) Ingredients: 5 oz cold Prosecco 2 TB Grand Marnier 2 TB cold sweetened cranberry juice or juice blend Optional: lime wedges and cranberries for garnish Instructions: Combine Prosecco, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice in a champagne flute or cocktail glass of your choice. Add a splash of lime if desired. Garnish as desired with lime wedges and cranberries. Stir gently and serve. Follow @chewoutloud for more delicious recipes! ✨ #drinkrecipe #drinkrecipes #cocktail #drinkphotography #foodandwine #drinks #cocktailrecipes #cocktailsofinstagram #drinkstagram #foodblogfeed #drinkoftheday #cocktailtime #cocktailsdaily #mixologyguide #Christmascocktail #Christmasrecipe #Christmasdrink
  • Are you a cookie lover? These Buttery Jam Thumbprint Cookies are here and ready to make your hearts happy ❤️ These cookies have been crowned “The Most Pinned Holiday Cookie,” as featured on Good Morning America and ABC News. ✨ Save this post: Ingredients List 👇 1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened* and sliced 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar, plus 1/4 cup more for dusting 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 tsp almond extract ½ tsp table salt 2 cups all purpose flour ½ cup real fruit preserves* (For printable recipe cards and notes, click on today's story.... or simply google "chewoutloud jam thumbprint cookies") ✨For more delicious recipes FOLLOW 👉"@chewoutloud" #cookies #thumbprintcookies #dessert #sweets #delicious #baking #bakinglove #eatwell #fromscratch #recipeoftheday #easyrecipes #tasty #delicious #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #eater #foodblogger #feedfeed #todayfood #f52grams #foodblogfeed #thefeedfeed